Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Abuja versus $557 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,850 in Abuja versus $874 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Abuja versus $1,190 in Kano.

Living in Abuja is roughly 203% more expensive than Kano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Kano is 58% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ₦2,812

$3.44 ₦4,741

-40.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.83 ₦61.7K

$10.55 ₦14.5K

324.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 ₦7,846

$5.49 ₦7,557

3.83%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₦3,501

$4.83 ₦6,645

-47.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₦760

$0.40 ₦552

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦573

$0.39 ₦532

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,478

$0.86 ₦1,178

24.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,639

$0.89 ₦1,231

33.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 ₦4,179

$3.44 ₦4,735

-11.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,725

$1.95 ₦2,684

-35.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₦3,457

$2.27 ₦3,126

10.57%

Eggs

$1.50 ₦2,072

$2.11 ₦2,905

-28.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,292

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₦6,335

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 ₦5,429

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ₦4,223

$7.19 ₦9,900

-57.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,442

$1.67 ₦2,299

5.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ₦3,009

$1.19 ₦1,644

84.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₦2,398

$1.20 ₦1,652

45.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,967

$2.31 ₦3,178

-6.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,486

$3.50 ₦4,813

-27.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₦835

$0.34 ₦461

79.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦395

$0.49 ₦676

-40.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,390

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 ₦9,760

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,518

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,964

$0.85 ₦1,167

68.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦883

$0.85 ₦1,165

-24.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.78 ₦50.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,247

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,408

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 ₦5,901

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 ₦1,060

$0.42 ₦577

83.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$30.29 ₦41.7K

$12.11 ₦16.7K

150.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.91 ₦15.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 ₦58.3K

$19.57 ₦26.9K

116.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.96 ₦60.5K

$33.65 ₦46.3K

30.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ₦11.4K

$4.74 ₦6,528

74.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$132 ₦181.5K

$35.02 ₦48.2K

276.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.71 ₦40.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 ₦40.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₦93.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 ₦117.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ₦3.4M

$477 ₦656.6K

421.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₦1.6M

$179 ₦246.4K

540.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,558 ₦7.7M

$1,163 ₦1.6M

377.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,731 ₦3.8M

$351 ₦482.7K

679.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₦1.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₦1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 ₦392.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abuja: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kano: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,487 in Abuja and $477 in Kano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Abuja vs $11.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $151 per month, with Kano cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abuja vs Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Kano differ by about 203% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $557 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,530 in Abuja and $836 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,487 in Abuja versus $477 in Kano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $132 in Abuja versus $35.02 in Kano. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $557 in Kano versus $1,687 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 203% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.